Gingivitis Treatment in Spanish Lake, MO
Gingivitis Treatment in Spanish Lake, MO. Have your gums become red or swollen? Does it hurt to brush your teeth? Or do you have bad breath you just can’t get rid of? If that’s the case, you may have a case of gingivitis. Plaza Dental offers professional, courteous, and high-quality gingivitis treatment to families and individuals of all ages in Spanish Lake, MO. We treat each patient like they were a member of our own family. If you have developed symptoms of gingivitis, or just haven’t had your regular dental appointment in a while, call Plaza Dental Center today at 314-361-1818 or contact us online.
While gingivitis is sometimes painful, it is typically considered mild. However, if left untreated it can lead to more severe dental issues such as periodontitis, tooth loss, and even loss of jaw bone structure. So it’s imperative to seek out gingivitis treatment immediately. The CDC states that nearly half of U.S. adults over 30 have gingivitis or other gum disease, which makes it one of the more prominent health issues in the U.S. If you suspect you have gingivitis, schedule an appointment with your Spanish Lake, MO dental office at Plaza Dental for gingivitis treatment today.
Gingivitis Treatment: When Do I Need It?
You should receive professional gingivitis treatment in Spanish Lake, MO the moment that symptoms start. Untreated gingivitis will usually develop into more advanced gum disease that can only be treated with costly and painful surgeries. Below is some further information on gingivitis and how to know when to seek out gingivitis treatment.
Gingivitis Causes
Gingivitis is caused, and gingivitis treatment is needed, when plaque accumulates on your teeth and on and below the gum line. This typically occurs in three stages:
- Plaque builds up. Plaque occurs as the result of food particles interacting with the bacteria that are normally in your mouth. Plaque contains bacteria and produces toxins that irritate your gums. Routine dental hygiene is important because plaque builds up quickly.
- Plaque becomes tartar. When plaque is allowed to accumulate, it solidifies under your gums and becomes tartar, which collects bacteria and behaves as a protective shield for more bacteria. Tartar can only be removed by a professional dental cleaning.
- Gingiva become inflamed. The gingiva are the part of the gum at the base of your teeth. When tartar and plaque are not removed, they irritate the gingiva and cause swelling. When not treated correctly, gingivitis can result in serious gum disease and dental problems.
Because gingivitis is the result of a buildup of plaque, bad dental hygiene such as not brushing your teeth twice a day or not having regular visits to your dentist is typically the primary culprit. If you haven’t made an appointment with the dentist because you’re worried about sitting in the dentist’s chair, Plaza Dental Center will help you feel at ease. Worried patients are of special interest to us as we want every Spanish Lake, MO resident and family to have the expert dental care they need and deserve.
Besides poor good oral hygiene, there are also specific risk factors related to gingivitis, including:
- Tobacco use
- Old age
- Dry Mouth
- Not fully removing plaque in the gingiva
- Poor nutrition and vitamin C deficiency
- Stress
- Dental implants that don’t fit properly or crooked teeth
- Certain prescription drugs
- Conditions that lower immunity, such as HIV or leukemia
As you can see, your gum health can be representative of your overall health. That’s another good reason to immediately seek gingivitis treatment from a professional Spanish Lake, MO dental office at the first sign of symptoms.
Gingivitis Symptoms
When plaque and tartar build-up on your teeth and in your gums, your gums will react by becoming irritated and enacting several defense mechanisms. Common symptoms of gingivitis are:
- Redness
- Swelling
- Chronic bad breath
- Dark red gums
- Receding gums
- Tender gums
- Painful chewing
- New sensitivity to temperature in your mouth
- Bleeding after brushing your teeth
If you believe you have gingivitis, it is imperative to reach out to your local Spanish Lake, MO dentist right away.
Gingivitis Prevention
The easiest method of gingivitis treatment is prevention. A good, consistent oral health regimen recommended by your Spanish Lake, MO dentist will generally stop gingivitis before it starts. The best means of prevention are:
- Proper oral hygiene, including:
- Brushing at least 2 minutes, twice daily
- Flossing once a day
- Regular, twice-yearly professional dental cleanings and polishing
- General proper health practices, such as eating well and exercising to maintain a healthy immune system
- Not smoking (64 percent of smokers have gum disease)
- Control diabetes if you have it
At Plaza Dental Center, patient education is a vital part of what we do for our patients. We strive to educate you on the best means of taking care of your teeth and gums in order to fend off gingivitis and other dental problems. However, sometimes gum disease emerges anyway, and that’s when you require quality Spanish Lake, MO gingivitis treatment to help your gingivitis go away before it gets worse. Often, a patient does not notice when gingivitis starts as the symptoms can be mild and not affect their daily quality of life. That is one of the reasons why twice-a-year teeth cleanings by a professional Spanish Lake, MO dentist are vital. We are able to detect early symptoms of gingivitis and other gum disease and give you gingivitis treatment before it worsens.
Gingivitis Treatment
When you initially seek gingivitis treatment from your Spanish Lake, MO dentist at Plaza Dental, your dentist will endeavor to diagnose gingivitis quickly. This usually includes looking at your gums for bleeding, swelling, and/or redness, checking your gingiva for plaque or tartar, measuring the pocket depth of your gums, and checking for loose teeth and gums that pull away from the teeth easily. In most cases, gingivitis is easily stopped and reversed with professional gingivitis treatment.
In more progressive cases, more advanced gingivitis treatment may be needed. Your Spanish Lake, MO dentist at Plaza Dental will know how to best treat your gums. Some more advanced treatments are:
- Scaling and Root Planning, or Deep Cleaning. After numbing the area they are going to scale, your dentist then will utilize a special instrument or ultrasonic scaler to scrape under the gingiva and get rid of the tarter that has accumulated. As scaling can leave the surface of the tooth rough, a Spanish Lake, MO dentist will then plane the root surfaces to smooth them out. As smoother surfaces are easier to brush and clean, scaling and root planing helps fend of further tartar build-up, and has the extra benefit of reducing any irritation that may develop from the scaling.
- Dental Restoration. Poorly fitted dental crowns, dental implants, or misaligned teeth will not only irritate your gums but will also make brushing harder, which makes fending off gingivitis harder.
- Ongoing Care. Once the plaque and tartar on your teeth and gums are removed, your Spanish Lake, MO dental team at Plaza Dental will help you come up with an at-home gingivitis treatment plan and preventative methods to ensure the gingivitis does not come back. We will also schedule your next appointment to ensure your teeth and gums remain healthy.
- Write a Prescription. Antimicrobial mouth rinse can help destroy harmful bacteria in your mouth and fend off further gingivitis.
- Gum Surgery. If left untreated, gingivitis can lead to serious problems for your gums, which can typically only be treated with surgery. To avoid this, schedule an appointment with your Spanish Lake, MO dentist at Plaza Dental when you first experience symptoms.
Call Plaza Dental for Your Spanish Lake, MO Gingivitis Treatment Today
If you have shown the initial symptoms of gingivitis, or worry you may have more advanced gum disease, it is imperative that you get in touch with Plaza Dental for gingivitis treatment today. Our dental team and staff are friendly, caring, and knowledgeable, and enjoy working with Spanish Lake, MO individuals and families no matter how young or old. Call Plaza Dental Center today at 314-361-1818 or fill out our online contact form.